Gage-glass protector.



PATENTED MAY 3, 1904.

T. MIRK.

GAGE GLASS PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.19,1903. N0 MODEL.

Patented May 3, 1904 ATENT "FFICE.

THOMAS MIRK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GAGE-GLASS PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,767, dated May 3, 1904.

Application filed August 19, 1903. Serial No. 169,967. (No model.)

To all whom, it ntrty concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS Minx, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gage-Glass Protectors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the sariie.

The present invention consists of a protector designed to wholly or partially cover a gage-glass, the object being to protect the gageglass from being damaged and at the same time prevent the pieces of flying glass in case the glass should burst or break from any cause from injuring the eye of the person in charge thereof.

To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a gageglass with the improved protector applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the proteetor. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of the drive-disk and its supporting-plate; and Fig. 4 is a detail broken sectional view of a portion of the drive-disk and supporting-plate.

The numeral 1 is used to indicate an ordinary gage-glass located between the fittings 2 3. This gage-glass is inclosed, preferably, by a horizontally-rotatable protector, which in the present case consists of spaced disks 4t 5, connected circumfercntially by a series of vertical wires 6. The disks areloosclymounted upon the extensions 7 7, so as to be free to revolve thereon. Disk 4 shall be termed the drive-disk, inasmuch as it is acted upon by the upward suction or air-draft to rotate the protector. This disk has secured to its periphery a series of short projecting blades or vanes 8, which are set at an angle to the axis of the disk 4. For the purpose of creating a strong suction or air-current to act upon the vanes of the drive-disk there is arranged above the fitting 2 a funnel 9. This funnel creates a strong upward current of air, which entering the enlarged bottom thereof acts upon the vanes or blades 8 the same as a current of air against a windmill and causes the same to rotate the disk 4: to drive the protector at a comparatively high rate of speed.

To reduce friction between the disk 4 and its fixed su 'iporting-plate 4:, there is interposed between the said disk and supporting-plate the ball-bearings 10.

The utilization of the blades or vanes 8 for imparting rotation to the disk A is preferred, although any suitable means may be employed for this purpose. A simple manner of arranging the disk 4 to utilize the force of the upwardly-drawn air consists in forming a series of tangential openings 11 circumferentially of the disk and supportingdate 4:, near the periphery thereof. As the air is drawn through these openings the effect will be to impart rotation to the disk for the driving of the protector. Preferably these tangential openings are used in addition to the blades or vanes 8.

Inasmuch as the protector rotates at a comparatively high speed, the line vertical wires 6 become substantially invisible, similar to the spokes of a driven wheel. Hence there is no interference as to the seeing or examining of the gage-glass. In case of breakage, however, of the gage-glass, due to high pressure, sudden expansion or contraction, or other causes, the wires 6 will confine the flying pieces of glass and prevent the same injuring the person attending the gage.

It is obvious that the gage-protector may be constructed of any suitable material and the form thereof varied without departing from the invention, the essential feature of which resides in a rotatable protector arranged to wholly or partially cover a gage-glass.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be protected by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a water-gage, of an open protector covering the same, and means for imparting continuous rotation to the proteetor.

2. The combination with a water-gage, of a cylindrical open protector enveloping the same, and means for imparting continuous rotation to the protector.

3. A water-gage protector, the same comprising an upper and lower disk, a series of spaced rods or wires connecting the same cirfixed supporting-plate for one of the disks, a

series of spaced wires circumferentially connecting the disks, ball-bearings interposed between the fixed plate and the disk supported thereby, and means for imparting rotation to the protector.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS MIRK. Witnesses:

N. A. AOKER, D. B. RICHARDS. 

